$200 million solar farm near Pittsworth wins approval

I love studying history, particularly the Roman Republic, ancient Greece and the First French Empire.
My other interests include jogging, playing chess and watching documentaries.
There’s not a subject I’m not interested in and I love my job.
I’m always available for a chat especially over a wine or coffee.

COUNCIL has approved a $200 million solar-energy project that's set to transform a rural area near Pittsworth.

With five of 11 councillors absent for this afternoon's Development Assessment Panel, a pared-back group voted in favour of the Yarranlea Solar project, a utility-scale photovoltaic solar plant planned about 45km away from Toowoomba.

Mayor Paul Antonio and councillors Megan O'Hara Sullivan, Nancy Sommerfield, Bill Cahill, Carol Taylor are absent and did not take part in the debate which focused on screening and light issues. Councillor Mike Williams was the lone voice of dissent at the Toowoomba Regional Council offices.

The project will have the potential to generate about 100MW of electricity, powering 32,000 homes and contributing to the Australian government's climate policy.

It will take about one year to construct and will include a 1.8ha vegetation buffer to the perimeter of the site, an electrical substation and 400,000 solar panels on mounting structures across the site.